Valve



Fb.'5, 1957 w. T. FLEMING 2,780,433

I VALVE Filed April 27, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v INVENTOR.

I I 5 BY ATTOM Feb. 5, 1957 w. T. FLEMING 2,780,433

VALVE Filed A ril 27, 1953 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 VALVE CLOSED VALVE OPEMNGINVENTOR.

United States Patent VALVE William T. Fleming, West Orange, N. 1.,assignor to Specialties Development Corporation, Belleville, N. J., acorporation of New Jersey Application April 27, 1953, Serial No. 351,333

13 Claims. (Cl. 251-70) This invention relates to valves, and, moreparticularly, to improvements in seat type, solenoid actuated valves.

Herelt'ore, seat type valves have been proposed wherein a valve memberwas held either on or off its seat by a 2,780,433 Patented Feb. 5, 1957ice last mentioned member for operating the element to engage andrelease the stop means.

More specifically, the element mounted on the plunger for engaging thestop means to lock the plunger may comprise a latch element pivotallymounted on the plunger having a cam surface and a projection forengaging the stop means. The means carried by the member slidablymounted in the plunger slot may comprise a latch oper-- ating elementpivotally mounted on the member and having a projection for engaging thecam surface of shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofspring and was held in the position opposite these positions I by asolenoid actuated mechanism, thus requiring constant energization of thesolenoid when acting to hold the valve member in a position inopposition to the spring. Prolonged energization of the solenoidconsumed power, caused heating of the solenoid, and reduced the serviceable life thereof. Also, in the event of a power failure while thesolenoid was energized, the spring would move the valve member to itsopposite position whereby flow through the valve was unintentionallyinterrupted or permitted which could cause difiiculties or seriouscon-sequ'ences and faulty operation of the systems in which such valueswere utilized.

Attempts have been made to overcome the foregoing disadvantages with theresult that the valves became slow acting and that the valve operatingmechanism became too bulky and complicated.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a seattype valve actuated by a solenoid or the mechanical equivalent thereofwhich overcomes the foregoing difiiculties and disadvantages.

Another object is to provide such a valve which is extremely quickacting.

Another object is to provide such a valve which is locked automaticallyin opened and closed position without continuous energization of thesolenoid whereby its position will not change in the event of a powerfailure.

Another object is to provide such a valve which is unaltected by thepressure of the-fluid flowing therethrough.

Another object is to provide such a valve which requires only a smallamount of power for its actuation and which requires no power tomaintain it in either its opened or closed position.

'A further object is toprovide such a valve whichis.

simple, compact and rugged in construction, economical jects may beaccomplished by providing a valve compris ing a body having a here, aninlet, an outlet, and a valve seat between the inlet and the outlet; avalve member for the seat; a plunger slidably disposed in the'bore andconnected to the valve member and having a slot therein; means formoving the plunger to efiect movement of the valve member with respectto its seat; stop means in the bore; an element movably mounted on theplunger for engaging the stop means to lock said plunger in a prede'termined position; actuating means including a member slidably mountedin the slot; and means carried by the body and serves as a closure forthe bore 17.

the specification, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a valve in accordance withthe present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line 22on Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a circuit in which the valve isconnected.

Fig. 4 is a schematic view of the latch element, together with itscooperating elements, including the operating element and the stopmeans, illustrating their relative posi- 19, a valve seat 20 between theinlet and the outlet and. an end wall 21 adjacent the outlet providedwith a vent opening 23. An annular ring 22 having a pair of shoul-- ders24 and 25 is seated on the shoulder 19.

The flow of fluid medium through the valve from the: inlet to the outletis controlled by a valve member 26. for the seat 20. The valve member ismounted on a shaft.

27 which extends longitudinally in the bore 17 and is; connected at oneend to a plunger 29 slidably disposed in the bore. The plunger isprovided with a slot 30, and a rod 31 is slidably mounted in this slot.The rod extends slightly beyond an enlarged end portion 32 of theplunger and through an aperture in the base of a cup-shaped disc 34, andthe enlarged end portion 32 of the plunger abuts the base of the disc. Astem 35 has one end connected to the rod 31 and has its other endconnected to the armature (not shown) of a solenoid 36, the operation ofwhich will be described hereinafter. A helical spring 37 is mountedaround the stem 35 and bears against the solenoid housing at one end andagainst a flanged rim 39 of the disc 34 at the other end and thus tendsto urge the plunger 29 in a direction to effect unseating of the valvemember 26.

The solenoid 36 is mounted in the end of the valve If desired, a capmember 40 having a suitable electrical connector may be mounted on thevalve body to cover and protect the solenoid. I

The valve member 26 is formed with a sleeve portion 41 having a bore 42through which the shaft 27 extends in which the shaft is secured. At apoint adjacent the end other end of the shaft is provided with anextension 44.

3; of reduced diameter which is connected to the inner end ofthe plunger29.

Preferably, the effective area of the valve member 26,

e, P u ge ndi hs en r ed... ead ti n, re bbore between its inlet unil-outlet, In the event fluid leaks I Pe i le lvflast. 29 t h ea 3 tmas/e c p through a vent Stifor the opening 23, provided for suchpurpose.

An electrical microswitch 51 of the singlepoledoublcthrow type ismounted at the exterior of the valve body adjacent an aperture 52therein adapted to receive a movable'i pin member 54 oftheswitch whichextends into the bore 17 and is engaged by flanged-rim 39 ofthedisc 34to, actuate the switch in a ,mannerto be, described hereinafter.

In order to enable the valve to lock itself in either the opened orclosed position, theplunger 29.is provided with a latch element 55,having a pair of cam surfaces 56 and 58 and a projection 57, pivotallymounted in the slot 30 on a pin 59 which extends across the slot and ismounted at each of its ends in the plunger. body. A second similarlymounted pin 60 servcsto limit the movement of the latch member,

Therod31; is also provided Witha slot 6 1 ;across which, are mountedthree pins 62, 64 and 65 having their ends secured in aperturesin therod at each side of the slot 61. providedfor that purpose. A latchoperating element 66, having a projection 67 and a second projection ortoe portion 69is pivotally mounted on the pin 62.

A two-way forkedspring 70 is looped about the pin 65 and has each of itsendsbearing against the toe portion 6901 the element 66, wherefore thespring tends to maintain the element 66 in the position shown in Fig. 1.

tion of the valve maycomprise a battery. B, a conductor.

71, a manually operable two-way switch72, conductors 7 {and 75, themicroswitch 51having an arm 73 contacting the conductor 74, the solenoid36 'anda return conductor 76. When the switch 72 contacts the upperconductor 74, the battery will supply current to the solenoidv 36through conductor 71, switch 72, conductor 74, switch 51 and conductor'76. Upon cnergizationof the solenoid, the arm 73 of the microswitch 51is caused to break contact with the conductor 7 4 and to make contactwith the conductor 75 so that, to energize the solenoid again, theswitch 72 must make contact with the conductor 75, whereupon the switch51 is caused to return to its original position in contact with theconductor 74, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

[n Fig. 4 the elements are shown in their respective positions when thevalve is closed. The projectionj57'of latch element 55 is in engagementwith the shoulder and the latch operating element 66 is shownretained'in its normal position 'by the action of the two-way spring70-on the toe portion 69 thereof.

In operation, to open the valve, the solenoid is energized, whereuponthe rod 31, which is connected through the stem 35 to the solenoidarmature (not shown), will slide in the plunger slot in a directiontowards the solenoid, as viewed in Fig. l. The projection 67 of thepivotally mounted element 66 will engage the cam surface 560i the latchelement 55,.- causing that. element to pivot on :pin 59 -until theprojection 57 is no longer engaged by theshoulder 25: For example, asshown in Fig. 5, the

latch operating element 66 is drawn in the direction indicated' and theprojection 67 engages the cam surface 56of latch element 55, causingthat element to pivot in a counterclockwise direction, as indicated,until its projection 57 becomes disengaged from the shoulder 25 and theextremity of projection 67 is drawn past the cam surface 56. Thecounterclockwise pivotal action of the latch element 55 causes element66 to, pivot in a clockwise direction against the restraining action ofthe spring 7!) on the toe portionv 619.- until the projectionfifluis.drawn out of engagement. with the cam surface 56. At this point of thecyclethe plunger is free tomove ancl-the-spring37, acting against thedisc 34, urges the plunger 29 in a direction away from the solenoid,thereby effecting, unseating of the valve member 26.

As the disc travels away from the solenoid under the influence of thespring 37, the flange 39 moves out of contact with the pin. 54,'permitting the contact arm of switch 51 to open the circuit and tcengage its other contact as descrihedheretofore, and to decnergizc thesolenoid, whereupon a spring (not shown), contained within the solenoidurges the armature towards its original position, thus movihgthe rod 31.intoits original position with respect to the plunger 29; When thisoccurs, the projection 57 onthe latch element 55 is engaged by theshoulder 24, and is maintained in that position by the force of thespring 37; and the element 66 has moved to the position shown in Fig. l.At the same time the spring 7fl, bearing against the toe portion 69, hasreturned the element 66 to its normal position on the pin 62.

To closethevalve, the :solenoid'is again energized and the armature, thestem 35, rod 31 and latch operating element 66 are again drawn in adirection towards the solenoid. The projection 67 engages the camsurface 58 of latch element 55; as shown in Fig. 6, causing the plunger29 to move with the rod "31' until the projection 57- of the latchelement 55 engages,the shoulder 25,- at which point the valve member isseated.

Fig, 7 illustrates the position of the same elements after thevalvemember is seated, but before the solenoid is de-energized; The action ofthe projection 67' on the cam surface58 has caused the latch element topivot in a clockwise direction while moving it linearly .in thedirection indicated until the projection 57 engages the shoulder 25. Asthis position is reached, the solenoid is de-energized, the armaturespring urges the rod 31 in a directiontowards the valve seat, andthcspring hearing downwardly onthetoe portionof the valve operatingelementcauses that elementto return to the position illustrated in Fig, 4.

As the disc 34 travls towards the-solenoid against theinfluence of: thespring37, the flange 39 moves into contact with the pin 54 causing it toride upward in the aperture 52 toopenthe switch 51, as describedheretofore-thereby de-energizingthe, solenoid, whereuponthe armaturespring,;( not, shown), contained within the so lenoid, urges th armaturetowards its original position, thnsi moying thedrod 31 into .itsoriginal positionwith respect; to the 1 plunger I 29.

To unseatthe valvemember, the solenoid is again energized, whereupontheelement 66 begins to move in the direction indicated until theprojection 57 is drawn outof engagementwith the shoulder 25, asdescribed heretofore.

From-thetforeggingdescription, it will be seen that thepresentminyention.provides a simple,- reliable, balanced valve, ofthescharacter indicated herein, which is quick acting:andWhich-automatically locks-itselfin the opened or closed ppsitiont Thetimerequired to open or close valvesmade-in accordance with the presentinvention has been measured as.015 second; It'will also be-seen that thevalve of--the present invention requires veryq-littlepowerfor-itsoperation, since the solenoid-is energized only momentarily toeffect operation thereof to The, latch element will. continue to pivot,

5 open or close the valve, and that in the event of a power failure, thevalve will not change its position. The apparatus has great utility in awide variety of applications of great importance in the marine, aircraftand dustrial fields.

As various changes may be made in the form, con struction andarrangement of the parts herein, Without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, itis to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted asillustrative and not in any limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A valve comprising a body having a bore, an inlet, an outlet, and avalve seat between said inlet and said outlet; a valve member positionedin said body for engaging said seat; a plunger slidably disposed in saidbore and connected to said valve member and having a slot therein; meansfor moving said plunger to elfect movement of said valve member withrespect to its seat; stop means in said bore; an element movably mountedon said plunger and constructed and arranged for engaging said stopmeans to lock said plunger in a predetermined position; actuating meansincluding a member slidably mounted in said slot; and means carried bysaid last mentioned member for operating said element to engage anddisengage said stop means.

2. A valve comprising a body having a bore, an inlet and an outlet, anda valve seat between said inlet and said outlet; 21 valve memberpositioned in said body for engaging said seat; a plunger slidablydisposed in said bore and connected to said valve member and having anaxially extending slot therein; means for urging said plunger in adirection to effect unseating of said valve member; stop means in saidbore; an element pivotally mounted on said plunger and constructed andarranged for engaging said stop means to lock said plunger in apredetermined position; actuating means including a member slidablymounted in said slot; and means carried by said last mentioned memberfor operating said element to engage and disengage said stop means.

3. A valve comprising a body having a bore, an inlet and an outlet, anda valve seat between said inlet and said outlet; a valve memberpositioned in said body for engaging said seat; a plunger slidablydisposed in said bore and connected to said valve member and having anaxially extending slot therein; means for urging said plunger in adirection to effect unseating of said valve member; a pair of stops insaid bore; an element pivotally mounted on said plunger and constructedand arranged for engaging each of said stops individually to lock saidplunger in predetermined positions respectively; actuating meansincluding a member slidably mounted in said slot; and means carried bysaid last mentioned member for operating said element to engage anddisengage said stops.

4. A valve comprising a body having a bore, an inlet and an outlet, anda valve seat between said inlet and said outlet; a valve memberpositioned in said body for engaging said seat; means formed with a pairof shoulders mounted in said bore; a plunger slidably disposed in saidbore and connected to said Valve member and having an axially extendingslot therein; means for urging said plunger in a direction to effectunseating of said valve member; an element pivotally mounted on saidplunger and constructed and arranged for engaging each of said shouldersindividually to lock said plunger in one of two predetermined positionsrespectively; actuating means including a member slidably mounted insaid slot; and means carried by said last mentioned member for operatingsaid element to engage and disengage said shoulders.

5. A valve comprising a body having a bore, an inlet and an outlet, anda valve seat between said inlet and said outlet; a valve memberpositioned in said body for engaging said seat; a plunger slidablydisposed in said bore and connected to said valve member and having anaxially extending slot therein; means for urging said plunger in adirection to effect unseating of said valve member; stop means in saidbore; an element pivotally mounted on said plunger and constructed andarranged for engaging said stop means to lock said plunger in apredetermined position and having a pair of cam surfaces; actuatingmeans including a member slidably mounted in said slot; and meanscarried by said last mentioned member for engaging said cam surfaces tooperate said element to engage and disengage said stop means.

6. A valve comprising a body having a bore, an inlet and an outlet, anda valve seat between said inlet and said outlet; a valve memberpositioned in said body for engaging said seat; a plunger slidablydisposed in said bore and connected to said valve member and having anaxially extending slot therein; means for urging said plunger in adirection to effect unseating of said valve member; stop means in saidbore; an element pivotally mounted on said plunger and constructed andarranged for engaging said stop means to lock said plunger in apredetermined position and having a pair of cam surfaces; actuatingmeans including a member slidably mounted in said slot; and meanspivotally mounted on said last mentioned member having a projectionconstructed and arranged to engage said cam surfaces to operate saidelement to engage and disengage said stop means.

7. A valve comprising a body having a bore, an inlet and an outlet, anda valve seat between said inlet and said outlet; a valve memberpositioned in said body for engaging said seat; a ring formed with apair of shoulders mounted in said bore; a plunger slidably disposed insaid bore and connected to said valve member and having an axiallyextending slot therein; a spring for urging said plunger in a directionto effect unseating of said valve member; a latch element pivotallymounted on said plunger having a projection and constructed and arrangedfor engaging each or said shoulders individually to lock said plunger inpredetermined positions respectively and having a pair of cam surfaces;actuating means including a member slidably mounted in said slot; alatch operating element pivotally mounted on said last mentioned memberhaving a projection constructed and arranged to engage said cam surfacesto cause said latch element to engage and disengage said shoulders andhaving a second projection; and a spring carried by said last mentionedmember and in engagement with said second projection to restrain pivotalmovement of said latch operating element.

8. A valve according to claim 7, wherein said actuating means include asolenoid mounted on said valve body having an armature connected to saidslidably mounted member for effecting movement thereof.

9. A valve comprising a body having a bore, an inlet and outlet, and avalve seat between said inlet and said outlet; a valve member positionedin said body for engaging said seat; a plunger slidably disposed in saidbore and connected to said valve member and having an axially extendingslot therein; means for urging said plunger in a direction to effectunseating of said valve member; stop means in said bore; an elementhaving cam surfaces pivotally mounted on said plunger and constructedand arranged for engaging said stop means to lock said plunger in apredetermined position; actuating means including a rod slidably mountedin said plunger slot and formed with a slot; and means pivotally mountedin said rod slot having a projection for engaging said surfaces tooperate said element to engage and disengage said stop means.

10. A valve comprising a body having a bore, an inlet and an outlet, anda valve seat between said inlet and said outlet; a valve memberpositioned in said body for engaging said seat; a plunger slidablydisposed in said bore and connected to said valve memberand' havinganaxially. extending slottherein means for urging said plunger in adirection to effect unseating of said-valve member; stop means in saidbore; an element" pivotally mounted onsaid plunger and'constructed andarranged for= engaging; said: stop means tolock' saidplunger inapredetermined position; a rod slidably mounted in said slot;meanscarri'ed by said' rod for'operatingsaid element to engageanddisengage said stop-means; and poweractw ated meansrfor effectingaxial-movement of said redto cause said means carried by'said rodto-engage and operate said element.

11:. in combination, a valve comprising-'21 body having a,bore,. aninlctzand'an outlet; and a valve, seat'betwcen said inlet; and.saidioutlet; a valve, member positionedinsaid body for engaging. said iseat;- a plunger: slidablydisposed in said horeiand connected .tosaidNalve member and having; an, axially, extending. slot; therein; spring:means forurgingsaid plungcri'inaa. directionlto effect unseating" of;said-valve:member; stop meanst inisaid bore; an.ele-.

ment pivotally mountcdonsaid-plunger and constructedv and arranged forengagingsaid. stop means tolocle said;

plungerin a-predcterminedposition;arod slidablymounted in said slot;meanscarried by said;rod ;for;operating,said. element toengageanddisengage; said stop: means; and;

operating, means including electromagnetic means for effecting axialmovement of said rod means to cause said. means: carried by v saidrodto'engageandoperate said,

element; and a circuit for said electromagnetic means in.- cluding asource of current, switch means, and circuit opening means associatedwith said. valvefor openingsaid circuit upon movement of said plunger.

l2. ln combination, a valve comprising a body having a bore, an inletand an outlet, and a valve seat between said inlet and said outlet; avalve member positioned in said body for engaging said seat; a plungerslidably disposed in said bore and connected to said valve member andhaving an axially extending slot therein; an extenion on said plunger;spring means for urging said plunger in a direction to effect unseatingof said valve member; stop means in said bore; an element pivotallymounted on said plunger and constructed and arranged-for engaging saidstop means to lock saidplunger in a predetermined position; a rod,slidably mounted in said slot; means carried by said rod for operatingsaid element to engage and disengage said stop means; disc meansabutting, said plunger and adapted for movement therewith having anannular flange; and operating means mounted on said valve body includingelectromagnetic means having" an armature connected to said rodfor'eilecting axial move ment" thereof' to cause said means carried bysaid r'o'd' means to engage and operate said element; and a circuit forsaid electromagnetic meanslincludi'n'g a sourceof "current in saidcircuit, switch means; circuit" opening means associatedwith said valve;and means mounted in'sa'id valve body adapted-tube actuated by saidannularflange uporrmovement of said plunger to operate said circuit"opening means.

13. In combination, a valve comprising a body liavi'ng a 1 bore; an:inlet and an: outlet, and a 1 valve seat between saidzinlet andsaidoutlet; a valve member'positi'on'ed in said bodycfor'engaging. said:seat; stop means formed with aepairi of: Si'lOUldBl'Si mounted in saidbore; a plung'er' slidably' disposedv in said. bore and connected at oneend to said valve member: andihavir'i'g anaxially extendingslotltherein; a fiangeslomth'e other end of said plunger, spring meansengagingisaid..fiange for 'urgin'gisaidiplun'ger in a'direction toeifectunseatingiof.said 'valve'member;

an element pivotally mountedi on: said plunger: and constructedand'arranged for engaging each of said shoulders individually to;locksaidplunger int predetermined lposi tions respectively and havingapair. of cam-surfaces;.a-

rod having a slot slidably mountedinisaidlfirst mentioned slot;means'pivotally mounted in said-rod'slot for operating said element toengage and disengage" saidv stop means; and operating-means mountedonsaid valve body including,electromagnetic means havingan armatureconnected'to-said rod for efiectingaxial movement-thereof to cause-saidmeansicarriedilby-said rodto cngage'and operate said elementyand. a.circuitfor said electromag:

neticmeans including a sourceof currengqswitch means,

circuit opening means mounted on said valve body, and means mounted. insaid valve'vbodyv' and' adapted-to be actuatedlby said flange uponmovement 'of saidiplun'gerto operate said. circuit opening means.

References Cited in the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 570,455Coleman New 3, 1896' 687,8953 Millea- Dec. 3; 1901 1,772,443. Eggleston:Aug. 5, 1930" 2,304,844 Parker: [Deer 15, 1942 2,551,445- Lindsay -May'1, 1951 2,556,675 Carnagua' June: 12, 1951

